@Bert, as usual, thanks for adding good insight here. I've never owned GM cars, and I did not know that. Thanks for your comments.

What you wrote in the last paragraph caught me eyes.

Oh, as an aside, GM and Mercedes, both of which have similar telematics systems, DID NOT offer to update older cars to the new cellular standard, or at least, not many of the older models. When OnStar went digital, ca. 2007, GM only offered updates to 2003 and newer cars. The rest could instead feel free to visit GM showrooms and select a new car.

Does this mean that something like a car to be "upgradable" and "future proof" as far as connectivity is concerned, they'd have to use software-defined radio? Or, it it just a plain fairy tale for those carmakers to think that they are "future-proofing" their cars, I wonder.

This is nothing new, in fact. I have OnStar in my GM car now. It uses the Verizon 3G network. Although initially we had a combined Verizon plan that included OnStar and our cellphones, later they split out the OnStar into a separate monthly bill. So, no problem if you don't have a Verizon plan!

(Parenthetically, the original Kindle is the same. It uses AT&T wireless. Doesn't have to be bundled with any other plan.)

The original OnStar used the analog AMPS standard. And yes, from the start, these ALWAYS had external antennas, for better reception. So I see this as a natural progression. AMPS to 3G (since analog cellular was shut off entirely by 2008), and one would expect OnStar to migrate to 4G and then 5G, each time selecting whatever cellular carrier that best met their needs.

Future proof with 4G? Kind of makes me laugh.

The idea of offering an in-car WiFi hotspot is sort of cool. Could be done with 3G too, I suppose.

Oh, as an aside, GM and Mercedes, both of which have similar telematics systems, DID NOT offer to update older cars to the new cellular standard, or at least, not many of the older models. When OnStar went digital, ca. 2007, GM only offered updates to 2003 and newer cars. The rest could instead feel free to visit GM showrooms and select a new car.

I agree. There are a lot of details that need to be worked out, I think. First, who pays the LTE subscription fee? Does it come with OnStar service? And how much flexibility will carriers offer consumers? Will they allow consumers to bundle this with their existing data plan? And obviously, if drivers are not subscribed to AT&T, then, what happens?

In conjunction with unveiling of EE Times’ Silicon 60 list, journalist & Silicon 60 researcher Peter Clarke hosts a conversation on startups in the electronics industry. One of Silicon Valley's great contributions to the world has been the demonstration of how the application of entrepreneurship and venture capital to electronics and semiconductor hardware can create wealth with developments in semiconductors, displays, design automation, MEMS and across the breadth of hardware developments. But in recent years concerns have been raised that traditional venture capital has turned its back on hardware-related startups in favor of software and Internet applications and services. Panelists from incubators join Peter Clarke in debate.